DREAMS

            Rise, Child.

            Patty was now on the border of dreams and reality. Elements of her real surroundings intertwined with that of her dreams. The cool and gentle sea breeze that was intermittently caressing her face, was slowly transforming into the harsh, continuous flow of air from the electric fan. The warm, soothing rays of the sun were slowly being replaced by the reality of a heavy comforter.

            Rise, my Child.

            8:27 a.m. She had overslept. She lay still, refusing to let go of her dreamy paradise. No, she did not want to leave that place; a place where all her troubles became as significant as the grains of sand beneath her bare feet. The blissful state she had been in was now dissolving, along with the sand, the sun, and the gentle breeze. Alas, she awoke; back to reality.

            She still lay still, refusing this time to exit her comfortable cocoon. She curled up some more under her comforter to concentrate her body heat, and preserve it from being blown away by the electric fan. Rays of light penetrated the slats of the blinds creating an equally dreamy, but much gloomier scene. The roosters have long-stopped crowing, and the only sounds she heard were the sporadic ambulant vendors and tricycles passing in front of their house. Aside from those, the room was perfectly still, and perfectly quiet.

            8:46 a.m. Nineteen minutes have passed since her awakening, and still, Patty refused to let go of her dream. Her mind was still empty, and she wished it had remained that way.

            *FLASHBACK*

            Loud music was blaring from very large speakers... People were dancing... Laser lights were piercing the smoky air...

            Patty suddenly sat up. Her entire body was rigid. That flashback came from nowhere. She wracked her brain for any traces of her dream the previous night. Nothing. Her head began to hurt.

            She finally rose from her bed and pulled on the strings of the window blinds. A bright, sunny day greeted her eyes. The sun was now half-way its journey to the zenith, as clouds rolled slowly about the blue canvas. A light breeze rustled leaves, and chirping birds filled the air with their songs. The flowers were now in their full bloom, and butterflies danced about them. The day was the epitome of a perfect day.

            *FLASHBACK*

            A fight...  A fight with her parents... Stifling her freedom...Freedom... Snuck out.

            Patty suddenly gasped. It was as if she had stopped breathing for a few seconds. The sudden rush of air rejuvenated her body. Suddenly, she had this very keen awareness that seemed to scream at her, telling her to look back. She did. The sight horrified her. The cabinets in her room were all open and clothes and other items were strewn all around the floor. Again, she wrung her brain to produce more memories or explanations. Nothing.

            Patty continued staring out of the window. Everything had stopped moving; no tricycles, no vendors, no people walking down the street. The breeze had ceased flowing and even the two birds perched upon the Acacia tree seemed to be frozen in time.

            “Queer...” Patty muttered.

            *FLASHBACK*

            Absinthe... One shot... Two shots... Three shots... She lost count.

            Gasp. Patty gasped for air again. She was still standing. She hadn’t collapsed. Memories started coming more clearly now.

            “Here! Take this!!!” A friend screamed over the roaring music.

            “It will help you dance for longer periods of time!!!”

            “Is that ecstasy?!?”

            “Just take it!!! You’ll have a good time!!!”

            Patty couldn’t remember anymore. Her memory flowed but it became chopped up and random again.

            *FLASHBACK*

            Dizzy... Spinning world... Darkness... Car... She was now in the backseat of a car... Darkness... Two men were now carrying her up to her room... Darkness...

            She arranged those pieces of memory in her mind. She concentrated on retaining those thoughts. Yes, she now remembered a shade more clearly. She remembered taking the pills. She remembered feeling dizzy. She remembered her friends helping her get back home.

            Home... Her home was her jail. She was a captive of the oppression, and tyranny imposed by her parents.

            Crying... The hollow sobs filled the room. Patty could not see where the crying was coming from. It did not matter. Her thoughts came back to the invisible shackles she wore.

            Home... Her home was her jail.

            Dreams... Her dreams were her freedom.

            Everything around her started to darken. She closed her eyes allowing her dreams to take her to paradise, allowing her dreams to embrace her, in an eternal lock.